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Seniors for Living is a free service that helps you and your family research, evaluate, contact, and compare Senior Housing options. Our resources include partnerships with hundreds of senior housing communities and home care providers; daily blog posts about all things boomer and seniors; a vibrant community on Twitter and Facebook; and a bi-monthly #ElderCareChat on Twitter -- all of which can help guide you in your own personal senior housing and senior care decision.

Why Senior Living Meals Are About More Than the Food

Dining alone is no fun. True, some people enjoy a little solitude now and then, but we’re primarily social creatures — particularly when it comes to food.

That’s one of the best parts of life in assisted living or independent living. Besides the fact that you don’t have to shop for, prepare or clean up after meals, the dining room (or cafe, bistro, snack shop, etc.) is a great place to make new friends or enjoy time with your spouse/partner. Many communities also allow guests to join you at any time; they also offer special holiday brunches and meals for visiting family members and friends.

Typically, independent living communities offer a variety of meal plans to suit the preferences of senior residents. If you enjoy cooking and entertaining, most apartments are furnished with a kitchen so you can prepare as many — or as few — meals a day as you desire. Of course, the kitchen also comes in handy for storing leftovers from meals in the dining room…

Many independent living providers offer several dining venues on campus. Residents can enjoy casual, self-serve meals in an informal cafeteria setting, or opt for a sit-down dinner, with tablecloths and linen napkins (and occasionally a dress code), ordering from a menu and being served by waitstaff.

Assisted living communities generally have one main dining area where all three meals are served. There may be a private dining room available for family celebrations, and some have a kitchen in a common area for residents who enjoy cooking or baking.